THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, May 4: ‘Ped Chalta Hai’ (The Tree Walks), a film produced in Palamu, has achieved a major milestone by being selected for the World Premiere category at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious global cinema platforms. This selection marks an important moment not only for Palamu but also for Jharkhand’s growing presence in international cinema.
Filming Locations Showcase Palamu’s Natural Beauty
Directed by Devaditya Bandyopadhyay, a noted filmmaker from Kolkata, the film was extensively shot across Palamu Tiger Reserve, Palamu Fort, Shahpur Fort, and various locations in Medininagar. The film highlights the region’s natural landscapes, forests, and heritage sites, presenting Palamu as a visually rich destination.
Storyline Rooted in Jal, Jungle, Zameen
The director explained that the film’s narrative revolves around the themes of water, forests, and land (jal, jungle, zameen) and the communities connected to them. The story is presented with a thriller and suspense treatment, giving it both social depth and cinematic appeal.
Production Team and Creative Collaboration
The film has been produced under the banner of Outline Expression in collaboration with the Masoom Art Group. Amit Behl serves as the Creative Producer. The original story was written in Bengali by Pulak Das, while the Hindi screenplay and dialogues were developed by Saikat Chatterjee, a well-known theatre artist and cinematographer from Palamu.
Cast: Blend of National and Local Talent
The film features well-known Mumbai-based actors such as Virendra Saxena, Pramod Pathak, Kumar Saurabh, and Satendra Soni. It also includes Kolkata actors Mainak Banerjee and Subrata Banerjee, along with performers from Palamu’s Masoom Art Group. Notably, several local artists from Palamu have delivered strong performances, earning appreciation from film critics.
Technical Excellence and Visual Appeal
The film’s cinematography is handled by Vikram Anand Sawarewal ‘Bebe’, while music composition is by Anand Bhaskar. The action sequences are directed by Sumit Barman, a sports coach from Palamu. The director emphasised that the film captures the raw and evocative beauty of Palamu compellingly.
Local Pride and Administrative Support
Saikat Chatterjee described the Cannes selection as a matter of immense pride for Palamu and Jharkhand. He credited the Palamu and Latehar district administrations and officials of the Palamu Tiger Reserve for their support in completing the film. He also highlighted how local theatre artists have proven their talent on a global platform.
Premiere Details Awaited
The Cannes premiere date and time are yet to be announced. Films selected in the Premiere category are those that have not been screened anywhere else. After its debut, the film may be submitted to other international film festivals.
The film features several artists from Palamu, including Kamakhya Prasad Sinha, Saikat Chatterjee, Murari Pandey, Amar Bhanja, Ujjwal Sinha, Avinash Pandey, Mannu Rain, Mohd. Naseem, Shahzada Talib, Mukesh Vishwakarma, Gulshan Mishra, Ashna Bhengra, Kanak Lata Tirkey, Varsha, Govinda, Prakash, Alok Nath, Adarsh Pandey, Mohd. Kaif, Amartya, Arindam, and others.
Palamu’s Earlier Cannes Connection
Palamu had earlier featured in global cinema through Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (Days and Nights in the Forest), which was screened in the Cannes Archives section. The film, starring Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal, Soumitra Chatterjee, and Tinu Anand, was shot in locations like Kechki, Betla, Garu, and Chipadohar.
With ‘Ped Chalta Hai’, Palamu once again steps onto the international stage, showcasing its culture, talent, and natural heritage to a global audience.